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Topic: trans am records (Read 3353 times)

I'm interested in doing a speed run of the transam route, perhaps an attempt for some sort of self-supported record. Any idea of where or if these are tracked? I think I am done with the divide for a bit and that the trans am might be a new calling.

To expand slightly, what's the point of seeing how fast you can complete an exploratory experience, a journey of discovery, a search for the heart of a country and the heart of a rider?

Although I wouldn't want to try the 20- or 22-hour days of RAAM, I hate traveling but I really like riding bike. So taking it easy and stopping at points of interest and meeting the locals is not what I want to do. I want to travel light, on a performance-oriented bike, and go fast and burn up the road and have fun. I know not everyone sees it that way though.

I don't know of any self-supported trans-america records. Here are the RAAM records - all heavily supported. http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/raam2.php?N_webcat_id=51The solo men's record is a 370-miles-a-day pace - 8 days, 9 hours total. Really brutal. For a self supported rider anything under a month would be pretty impressive. Three weeks or less would give you serious bragging rights and would require a lot of planning, serious conditioning and a very light load.

I don't know of any self-supported trans-america records. Here are the RAAM records - all heavily supported. http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/raam2.php?N_webcat_id=51The solo men's record is a 370-miles-a-day pace - 8 days, 9 hours total. Really brutal. For a self supported rider anything under a month would be pretty impressive. Three weeks or less would give you serious bragging rights and would require a lot of planning, serious conditioning and a very light load.

I am curious about your numbers on what you estimate would constitute impressive. Are you talking about a route like RAAM (<3 000 miles) or the TA (somewhere between 4200 and 4300 miles depending on options)? Just curious.

I generally just wing it when touring, asking around and getting off bad roads. I have used the Adventure Cycling maps as an occasional reference in difficult areas like Louisiana and parts of South Carolina and California but generally have worked out my routes the hard way. That's all I know.

I'm not familiar with the RAAM routes but I would guess that, since the race is heavily supported, they often go on roads that would be difficult alone in order to make for a shorter route. This would make a solitary, self-supported, low-total-mileage dash across the US mighty tough.

I'm not familiar with the RAAM routes but I would guess that, since the race is heavily supported, they often go on roads that would be difficult alone in order to make for a shorter route. This would make a solitary, self-supported, low-total-mileage dash across the US mighty tough.

I agree that RAAM routes may be less suitable for unsupported trips, but am not sure how much that is the case. That said, there are possible routes that are much shorter than the TA that would be suitable. The ST for one is much shorter. Also I know that a Swedish guy (Bjorn Suneson) we met, who was running across the US with his gear in a baby jogger, successfully ran a relatively shortish route (a little over 3100 miles). The end points of his route were close to those of the TA and he ran on some of the TA route (we met him in eastern Oregon while on our TA). If the roads were OK for his baby jogger they probably were for a bike as well.

I've raced the great divide mountain bike route twice and have done countless road trips across the country. To ask me "what's the point?" for just wanting to set a record across such a thing is nearly identical to the person who went about setting a record on the great divide mountain bike route back in 99. I've done enough self-discovery and searching in the wilderness and less traveled parts of the United States. What I'm trying to do is blaze my own path, and it's certainly not going to be blazed at a touring pace. I know I am racer inquiring about a touring route and that I am the black sheep in this forum, deal with it folks! I am not surprised there is no known record for the trans am, but let it be known there is a sub 18 day record for the great divide mountain bike route. My butt moves quite consistently and solidly on pavement and being as the trans am starts/ends in my home state of oregon and goes through my original hometown of Fair Grove, MO, it seems like the perfect route for a record attempt. I am well aware of RAAM but it's format is not my cup of tea, the trans am is a beautiful route which I have biked/driven/lived on chunks of and I'm mostly sure it's my calling to set a record on it. I am dead serious, if anyone has any knowledge of a record on it, please let me know. I am guessing it's a route no one has really considered yet for racing and that leads me even more to believe that I am heading in the right direction. I will save my touring days for when I pass 40/50, but I'm only 29 and I've got some energy to burn.

I've raced the great divide mountain bike route twice and have done countless road trips across the country. To ask me "what's the point?" for just wanting to set a record across such a thing is nearly identical to the person who went about setting a record on the great divide mountain bike route back in 99. I've done enough self-discovery and searching in the wilderness and less traveled parts of the United States. What I'm trying to do is blaze my own path, and it's certainly not going to be blazed at a touring pace. I know I am racer inquiring about a touring route and that I am the black sheep in this forum, deal with it folks! I am not surprised there is no known record for the trans am, but let it be known there is a sub 18 day record for the great divide mountain bike route. My butt moves quite consistently and solidly on pavement and being as the trans am starts/ends in my home state of oregon and goes through my original hometown of Fair Grove, MO, it seems like the perfect route for a record attempt. I am well aware of RAAM but it's format is not my cup of tea, the trans am is a beautiful route which I have biked/driven/lived on chunks of and I'm mostly sure it's my calling to set a record on it. I am dead serious, if anyone has any knowledge of a record on it, please let me know. I am guessing it's a route no one has really considered yet for racing and that leads me even more to believe that I am heading in the right direction. I will save my touring days for when I pass 40/50, but I'm only 29 and I've got some energy to burn.

I'm not aware of a standing record for a transam crossing, but I think it is a cool idea. Everyone gets enjoyment in different ways and your idea will also allow for self discovery as well. I wish you good luck and would enjoy hearing about the journey.

I'm not aware of a standing record for a transam crossing, but I think it is a cool idea. Everyone gets enjoyment in different ways and your idea will also allow for self discovery as well. I wish you good luck and would enjoy hearing about the journey.

Gotcha, I think the trans am has remained untouched for a record attempt for a number of obvious reasons, one being that there is RAAM and the other that it is a touring route. But I have been fascinated with it since last year and think it's made it to the top of my bucket list. Thanks for the kml's of all the routes btw, that is some sweet work!

I'm interested in doing a speed run of the transam route, perhaps an attempt for some sort of self-supported record. Any idea of where or if these are tracked? I think I am done with the divide for a bit and that the trans am might be a new calling.

Are you familiar with these rides? http://noidletour.org/ JayP is applying the self-supported bikepack racing philosophy to the road. Amazing stuff.